Inter manager Antonio Conte has discussed what tomorrow’s Europa League final against Sevilla means to him on a personal level.
“My thoughts are always on the club and the players and trying to play these games to the maximum and reach the end of the season,” he explained in an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, a short while ago.
“This is my fourth year in Europe, I have finished second and fourth in the Champions League and made the semi finals and final in the Europa League.
“I think it’s nice to play the final, I care especially for clubs, players and fans since 10 years of waiting without being protagonists is a lot.”
The 51-year-old former Italian national team manager, who is in his first season in charge of Inter, then went on to speak about how he feels the team have taken his ideas on board over the course of the campaign.
“We have been working on certain situations since the beginning of the year, it takes time. You can give your input, but it takes time for them to be stored.
“There is also a period when you think there is a rejection of the ideas, but then they start to transform the notions in terms of the tactical and technical work.
“There has always been self-denial in the group but they have always believed in my ideas. Now there is also courage in doing things, where earlier they might have been hesitant. Defending by running forwards has helped us a lot.”
In conclusion he was reminded that Sevilla are used to participating in finals and what Inter need to do in order to get the better of the Spanish club, who are five time winners of the competition.
“We have to give our all on the pitch, we have to respect them and show that we want to raise the cup. There is desire, enthusiasm and determination on our part.
“We have less experience than Sevilla, who have players who have already played in these games and from this point of view they have an advantage.
“I hope that my boys take the field with a free mind and determined, I tell them that these are opportunities that can come back but sometimes it does not happen. There is only one way to enter into the history of a club and that is to win.”
Sevilla versus Inter is due to kick off at 21:00 local time tomorrow night at Bundesliga club FC Koln’s RheinEnergieSTADION in Cologne, Germany. €7.5 million is at stake with the winners getting €4 million for winning and then a further €3.5 million for participating in the UEFA Super Cup.
